In Quinn bill debate, Mitt Romney stood by labor

As governor, he championed costly perk for police officers

Mitt Romney this week accused President Obama of kowtowing to “big labor’’ and slammed Rick Santorum, one of his challengers for the Republican presidential nomination, as “labor’s favorite senator.’’ But as governor of Massachusetts, Romney fiercely protected a costly and controversial perk for police officers after seeking and receiving the endorsement of the politically influential police unions.

Even as he pushed to slash aid to cities and towns and programs for the blind and raised college tuition, he fully funded a $45 million program that awarded salary bonuses to officers who earned advanced degrees.